Mayoral trickery

Tuesday

Oct 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMOct 31, 2007 at 6:06 PM

This didn't sound good.

He had already taken the shiny green gum ball from her, and that hadn't ended up with anything good. He didn't want to do anything for this lady, but then, how else would he get his ear, eyes and hand back?

"What do I have to do?"

The lady gave a wicked smile. Her eyes had now taken on an evil glow. Josh took a few steps back. The lady sneered and began talking.

"You must deliver a box of chocolates to the mayor for me."

Josh panicked. How could he possibly do that!?!? He knew he couldn't trust this lady. She handed him a blood- red box.

"Go," she said. "Time is running out!"

Unwillingly, Josh took the box. What other choice did he have? His mind was racing. How was he supposed to find the mayor?

He could feel his leg stiffening, but he didn't even want to look down. Stumbling past a telephone booth, he wanted to call his parents to ask for help, but something told him they weren't home. Along with that thought, echoed the lady's sneer: "Time is running out!"

Josh quickened his pace. Streets seemed to whiz by. Ahead of him was the Police Department. He thought the police would be able to help him.

He went for the handle, but the door opened automatically. He could feel the cold air gushing out. He slipped inside and ran up to the counter. He lifted his head, and to his horror, there sat the lady. He jumped back and ran out the door. Her voice slithered after him like a snake: " Hurry . . ."

Once outside, he saw a black limo passing by. On the door in glowing green letters was printed "MAYOR GREEN." Josh's hair was beginning to turn into Gummi worms. He had to deliver the box. FAST!

Josh tried running after the limo, but it was too fast. He looked around and spotted a deserted bike. He ran for the bike. While running toward the bike, Josh could see that the distance between the limo and him was increasing quickly.

He dove for the bike and ended up breaking off a chunk of his pretzel leg. He gathered up his courage and raced after the limo. He could see it a few blocks ahead of him because everyone seemed to be making way for it.

He pedaled faster and faster, now going at breakneck speed. He could tell that he was catching up slowly. Mothers gathered their children to themselves, panicked looks on their faces.

"Am I going too fast?" he asked himself. He didn't answer his question because he didn't care. He just needed to deliver the chocolates and get himself back to normal before it was too late.

Josh was no longer far away from the limo. His eyes were glued to the bumper of it, and he didn't notice when the brake lights lit up. When Josh finally noticed, it was too late to stop. Too late to do anything.

He crashed heavily into the trunk. His licorice hand smacked against the shiny, black paint, leaving a dull stain. Seconds that seemed to have been passing by so quickly before now ticked by much too slowly.

The box of chocolates left his hand. The mayor, like a slow-moving turtle, got out of his car. Through the mayor's glasses, Josh recognized the evil, green glow. The same glow he had seen in the lady's glasses.

Behind the mayor, Josh could see the box of chocolates hit the ground. It opened, and all of the chocolates scattered across the asphalt.

The impact of crashing into the trunk had sent the gum flying out of his mouth. As it left his mouth, his body slowly became human again. Josh raised his hand to scratch his ear, and in fear noticed that it was nibbled. The mayor came up to Josh, and as he was pulling Josh away from the car, Josh heard a familiar voice.

Josh ended up at a place that looked like an old, vacant apartment. Inside, Josh watched in horror as the mayor passed out the chocolates that had once been scattered about on the asphalt to a number of gathered parents . . . two of whom were his own.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Josh cried, as he watched the wicked grins spread across their faces, and their eyes take on an evil, green glow.

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